Regarding the downtown Hamilton casino, I thought this article on Windsor's experience was interesting. Basically, initially a lot of US tourism pre-911 and smoking bans and then a cratering of US tourists with lost jobs. Also mentioned is that there isn't any spillover to nearby businesses.
Then there's this Spec piece by CHML's Scott Thompson. Thompson's pieces generally make me think of him as a not very bright person who has his job because of his radio voice. Here his argument seems to be $200 million downtown investment repeated over and over. Reminds me of Macklemore's line in the song "Thrift Shop", "tricked by bizness." Sure it's $200 million downtown investment, but one that sucks away local disposable income to the province, leaving a relative pittance, plus increased social service costs when increased local lower city gambling has an unfortunate few flaming out by losing their homes and jobs and the like.
Downtown has momentum now anyways. I've heard people saying Barton is going to be the new James North. We don't need a casino.
Showing posts with label casino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label casino. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Council Voting on Casino, Predictions
Since it looks like council may very soon on whether a downtown casino should go ahead, I thought I would make predictions on each councillors vote. Note these are just my guesses and for a downtown casino. Seems pretty clear that if Flamborough is in any way viable that's where council will go.
Mayor Bob Bratina: You pretty much have to put him down for yes.
Mountain:
Tom Jackson Ward 6: Mercantiville (aka Carmen's). Yes.
Scott Duvall Ward 7: Hardcore NDPer. No idea really. I'll say no, although some Hamilton unions seem to be in favour.
Terry Whitehead Ward 8: Wavering a tiny bit, but I'm putting him down for yes.
Lower City:
Brian McHattie Ward 1: Uh, no.
Jason Farr Ward 2: Very likely not. Doesn't seem like there are many votes in Ward 2 to be had for a downtown casino.
Bernie Morelli Ward 3: I'll go with no, mainly because there's probably not a lot of votes for it in Ward 3.
Sam Merulla Ward 4: No.
Chad Collins Ward 5: No idea and haven't heard anything. I'll say no.
Burbia:
Brad Clark Ward 9: Not sure, and he doesn't seem decided. With the Hard Rock proposal, I'll put him down as yes.
Maria Pearson Ward 10: No clue. I'll say no.
Brenda Johnson Ward 11: Seems on the fence, although pro-development downtown. I'll go with yes.
Lloyd Ferguson Ward 12: Since it isn't in Ancaster, and it could bring in tax revenue, I'll put him down as yes.
Russ Powers Ward 13: I can't think that the people of Dundas are pro-downtown casino, so no.
Robert Pasuta Ward 14: No real idea. Maybe pro Flamborough so I'll say no.
Judi Partridge Ward 15: Racetrack ward, so No.
I've got only six yes votes, but not a lot of evidence. Getting to eight doesn't seem that hard.
Mayor Bob Bratina: You pretty much have to put him down for yes.
Mountain:
Tom Jackson Ward 6: Mercantiville (aka Carmen's). Yes.
Scott Duvall Ward 7: Hardcore NDPer. No idea really. I'll say no, although some Hamilton unions seem to be in favour.
Terry Whitehead Ward 8: Wavering a tiny bit, but I'm putting him down for yes.
Lower City:
Brian McHattie Ward 1: Uh, no.
Jason Farr Ward 2: Very likely not. Doesn't seem like there are many votes in Ward 2 to be had for a downtown casino.
Bernie Morelli Ward 3: I'll go with no, mainly because there's probably not a lot of votes for it in Ward 3.
Sam Merulla Ward 4: No.
Chad Collins Ward 5: No idea and haven't heard anything. I'll say no.
Burbia:
Brad Clark Ward 9: Not sure, and he doesn't seem decided. With the Hard Rock proposal, I'll put him down as yes.
Maria Pearson Ward 10: No clue. I'll say no.
Brenda Johnson Ward 11: Seems on the fence, although pro-development downtown. I'll go with yes.
Lloyd Ferguson Ward 12: Since it isn't in Ancaster, and it could bring in tax revenue, I'll put him down as yes.
Russ Powers Ward 13: I can't think that the people of Dundas are pro-downtown casino, so no.
Robert Pasuta Ward 14: No real idea. Maybe pro Flamborough so I'll say no.
Judi Partridge Ward 15: Racetrack ward, so No.
I've got only six yes votes, but not a lot of evidence. Getting to eight doesn't seem that hard.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Hamilton, Casinos and Lotteries Redux
In a recent post about Hamilton's potential casino and its possible effects on Hamilton's poor I bantered the idea of trying to reduce lottery use amongst Hamilton's poorest citizens. There's an interesting CBC Hamilton article about Brantford's experience with their casino. I found these paragraphs interesting:
"The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction wants to be sure. The roundtable is figuring out where it stands on the casino issue, Cooper said. In doing so, it commissioned a study by local researcher Sarah Wayland.
Wayland's study found that while low-income residents don't gamble as often as medium and high-income households, they spend a disproportionately higher percentage of their income on gambling, Cooper said.
“It also showed the closer someone lives to a casino, the greater chance of someone going to a casino, so that would obviously have an impact for residents in the downtown core,” he said.
Studies have found that low-income populations are more likely to buy a lottery ticket or play bingo. But those who go to casinos “spend a lot of money,” Wayland said."
So lotteries are more likely played by those with low incomes. That's not surprising, considering casinos aren't as ubiquitous as convenience stores selling lottery tickets, plus the minimums are often lower. Ameliorating money issues for those with low income would be best addressed by addressing lotteries. I don't think that casinos are a great thing for low income people, but since lotteries already exist, why not try and do something about them anyways?
"The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction wants to be sure. The roundtable is figuring out where it stands on the casino issue, Cooper said. In doing so, it commissioned a study by local researcher Sarah Wayland.
Wayland's study found that while low-income residents don't gamble as often as medium and high-income households, they spend a disproportionately higher percentage of their income on gambling, Cooper said.
“It also showed the closer someone lives to a casino, the greater chance of someone going to a casino, so that would obviously have an impact for residents in the downtown core,” he said.
Studies have found that low-income populations are more likely to buy a lottery ticket or play bingo. But those who go to casinos “spend a lot of money,” Wayland said."
So lotteries are more likely played by those with low incomes. That's not surprising, considering casinos aren't as ubiquitous as convenience stores selling lottery tickets, plus the minimums are often lower. Ameliorating money issues for those with low income would be best addressed by addressing lotteries. I don't think that casinos are a great thing for low income people, but since lotteries already exist, why not try and do something about them anyways?
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